PR No. 16
PRESS RELEASE
Pakistani Senators to Attend APPCED held in Malaysia
Islamabad: June 3, 2011.A nine(9) member Pakistani delegation headed by Deputy Chairman Senate, Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali will attend 15th General Assembly of the Asia Pacific Parliamentarians’ Conference on Environment and Development (APPCED) held in, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 7th to 9th June, 2011, says a press release received here today from Malaysia.
The Head of Pakistani delegation, Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali will also present a country report at the plenary session on 7th of June, 2011 on theme, “Climate Change and Tourism”.
The members of the Pakistani delegation include Senator, Ms. Saeeda Iqbal, Senator Mr. Rehmatullah Kakar, Senator Mr. Abdur Rashid, Senator Ms. Kalsoom Parveen, Mrs. Anusha Rehman MNA and Mr. Junaid Anwar Chaudhary MNA.
The delegation will attend inaugural session wherein H.E. Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Malaysia will deliver his opening and Keynote Address followed by a day long plenary session wherein each participant country including Pakistan will present a country report.
The delegation will follow a hectic schedule on 2nd day of the session and will attend the presentations made by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Malaysia, United Nations World Tourism Organization ( UNWTO ) and Korean Culture and Tourism Institute on Environment and Climate change.
The delegation will also grace the closing session held in the evening wherein Mr. Hon. Hwang, Woo–Yea, President of APPCED and H.E. Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, President of the Senate, Malaysia will deliver their closing speeches and later Kuala Lumpur Declaration will be adopted.
On the third day, the delegation with other participant countries will visit Banghuris Homestay near Kuala Lumpur, and will be briefed on Homestay tourism program. The delegation will also attend a tree plantation ceremony and will visit Coffee Plantation, crackers processing factory, and would take a tour around Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia.
Parliamentarians from forty six countries are targeted to attend. The countries which have confirmed their participation include Canada, Korea, Sri Lanka, Indonesia Nepal, Solomon Island, Maldives ETC.
The Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Conference on Environment and Development (APPCED) was established in June 1993. APPCED is designed to provide ample opportunities to share ideas, experiences and policies in order to enhance legislative activities for sustainable development within its member Parliaments. The aim of APPCED is to stress the importance of environmental protection and the maintenance of ecological balance throughout the Asia - Pacific region.
PR No. 17
PRESS RELEASE
Afghan Women Parliamentarians delegation call on the President
Islamabad: June 3, 2011.A delegation of women Parliamentarians from Afghanistan today called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The delegation included among others Ms Asila Wardak Jamal, Director Human Rights & women’s International Affairs, Ms Shinkai Karokhail, Ms Razai Sadat Mangal, Ms Golalei Nur Safi and Ms Elay Ershad.
Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General, Dr Nafisa Shah, MNA, Dr Donya Aziz, MNA, Ms Farhanaz Ispahani, MNA and Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar were also present.
Pak-Afghan bilateral relations and mutual cooperation, enhanced ties among the parliamentarians of the two countries particularly the women parliamentarians, situation in Afghanistan and other related issues were discussed during the meeting.
Briefing the media, Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that the President emphasized the need for frequent exchange of visits of Pak- Afghan parliamentary delegations and also urged for forging stronger links and ties among women parliamentarians of the two countries. He called upon women parliamentarians to make joint efforts and participate actively at advancing the cause of gender equality and emancipation of women and also for ending all forms of discrimination against women both in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He expressed the hope that the visit by the Parliamentarians would further strengthen cordial relations between the two countries.
The spokesperson said that the President recalled his meeting with the first Convention of Women Parliamentarians from Afghanistan and South Asia last year and said that the Convention that also include Afghan women Parliamentarians was as a giant leap towards a meaningful participation of women leaders for peace, security and reconciliation in the region. The President while referring to the current wave of militancy and extremism in the region said that the world would be a better place if more women were in positions of power and women of the region were brought closer together. He said that the bringing together of women of the region will make this region and the world more tolerant, more peaceful and more secure.
The President said that Pakistan wants to further enhance trade and investment ties with Afghanistan and urged for increasing the current bilateral trade which is around US $ 2 billion to new heights. He expressed the hope that the new Afghanistan- Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) will boost trade and economic opportunities to the mutual benefit and its smooth implementation will have dividends for peoples of both the countries.
The President said that we feel proud that Pakistan Peoples Party has to its credit many firsts on the road of women emancipation adding that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan and she was also the first woman Prime Minister anywhere in the Muslim World. For the first time in our parliamentary history a women caucus has been formed, he said and added that apart from women members of Parliament, we have women pilots, women judges and women police officers. We have women in other government services and in the country’s corporate and private sector, he said.
Discussing Afghanistan situation, the President said that Pakistan stands for peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan which he said was in its own interest as any development in Afghanistan had its impact on Pakistan. He reiterated Pakistan will support every effort to bring in peace and stability in Afghanistan adding that Pakistan desires an Afghan led solution to the current situation in Afghanistan.
The members of the delegation thanked the President for meeting and appreciated the various efforts being taken by the government for socio- political and economic empowerment of women of the country.
PR No. 18
PRESS RELEASE
Pakistan to Sign MoU with Italy on Control of Drugs
Islamabad: June 3, 2011.During a meeting between Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Haji Khuda Bux Rajar and Drug Liaison Officer of Italy, Col. Franco Giandinoto on Friday at Islamabad, it was informed that Pakistan and Italy would sign MoU on drugs Control.
Federal minister for Narcotics Control, Haji Khuda Bux Rajar said that Pakistan gives prime importance to enhance international cooperation to combat threat posed by production and trafficking of drugs. In this regards Pakistan has signed MoU on control of Drugs and psychotropic substances with 30 countries and also conducted extradition treaty with 28 countries .He also said that it is common and shared responsibility of whole world to join hands against drug abuse. Federal Minister for Narcotics control also mentioned that Pakistan has taken stringent measures to check the flow of drug from trafficking towards rest of the world. Pakistan’s achievements and efforts in this regard are recognized and admired by global community.
Col .Franco Giandinoto, Drug Liaison Officer of Italy thanked Pakistan for sharing real time information from case to case. He said by signing MoU between Pakistan and Italy the level of cooperation would be improved and relation between these two countries would be strengthened.
PR No. 19
PRESS RELEASE
VARIOUS POLITICAL LEADER AND DELEGATIONS CALL ON President
Islamabad: June 3, 2011.Political leaders and various delegations today, separately, called on the President at Aiwan-e-Sadr to offer their condolences to the President over the death of his father.
Those who visited the Presidency today to offer their condolences with the President included Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Mr. Humayun Akhtar Khan, Mr. Haroon Akhter Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Mr. Samsam Ali Bokhari, Mr. K. B. Rind, Brig® Amir Muhammad Khan, Mr. Tariq Malik, Mr. Kifayat Ali, Dr Khalid Ranja, Malik Parvez Akhtar and Mr. Shakeel Durrani.
A Delegation of Pakistan Business Council which separately called on the President for offering their condolences to the President included Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Chairman Descon, Mian Muhamamd Mansha, Chairman MCB, Mian Umer Mansha,Dir Nishat Mills, Mr. Atif R Bokhari, President UBL, Mr. Naved Khan, President Fysal Bank, Mr. Asif Jooma, MD Abbot Laborteries, Mr. Osman Saifullah Khan,CEO Saif Textile Mills, Syed Hyder Ali, MD Packages, Mr. Muneer Kamal, Voice chairman KASB Investments, Mr. Kamran Y. Mirza, CEO Pak Business Council, Mr. Aziz Memon and Mr. Tariq Seghal.
Later, Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) delegation led by Mr. Sarfraz Hussain Shah also called on the President to offer their condolences to the President on the death of his father Hakim Ali Zardari. Other members of the delegation included Mr. Muhammad Aslam Kazi, KTN, Dr Abdul Karim Rajpar, Sindh TV, Mr. Ghazanfar Ali, Indus TV, Mr. Tahir A. Khan, TV One, Mr. Yousaf Baig Mirza, PTV, Mr. Jawad Hamid Raja, AVT Channel, Mr Shakeel Masud Hussain, Dawn News, Mr. Ilyas Shakir, Dhoom TV, Mr. Mehmod Sham and Mr. Muhammad Ali Butt, PBA.
They offered fateha for the departed soul and prayed to Allah for granting eternal peace to the departed soul.
The President thanked the visitors for their condolences and their sympathie
PR No. 20
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: June 3, 2011.Tajik Foreign Minister Mr. Hamrakhon Zarifi received the visiting Pakistani businessmen today at the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Warmly welcoming the delegation, the Foreign Minister underscored the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of hydropower, infrastructure and agriculture and the opportunities for joint ventures in various fields. He said that peace and security of Afghanistan was of paramount importance for boosting economic and commercial activities both bilaterally and in the region. He added that Afghan situation cannot be addressed by a narrow military agenda and emphasized on the need for concerted efforts to help bring peace and stability in Afghanistan, says a press release received from Dushanbe here today.
The leader of Pakistan’s delegation Mr. Tariq Iqbal Puri, Chief Executive TDAP, profusely thanked for the Tajik hospitality and stated that connectivity between the two countries would be instrumental in boosting business activities. He requested the Foreign Minister to help in making the airline operation economically viable by reducing the landing and services charges of the Dushanbe airport. He invited Tajik businessman to participate in the EXPO Pakistan 2011 that would be held in Karachi from October 20-23, 2011. He also assured that Pakistan was fully committed to support Tajikistan’s membership of the WTO and implementation of the CASA-1000 project.
Mr. Zarifi assured that he would take up the matter with the relevant authorities for reducing the airport charges and would also ask Tajik businessmen to participate in EXPO Pakistan 2011. He highly appreciated the efforts of Tajik Ambassador in Islamabad and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Dushanbe for making the business forum a joint success.
The 3rd Business Forum culminated into over one hour long meeting with President Emomali Rahmon. The Tajik President warmly welcomed the delegates and stated that in a short period of three years, the bilateral trade had increased many folds. He dwelled at length on the experiences of Tajikistan since independence and elucidated how Tajikistan recovered from the bloody civil war of 1990s.
President Rahmon identified the sectors where mutually beneficial joint ventures could be established. He enumerated clothing, education, cement and collaboration in agriculture, health, pharmacy, cotton and light industry as the main areas of cooperation.
Mr. Puri thanked Tajik President for the warm welcome and hospitality shown by the Tajik authorities. He mentioned that Pakistan attaches great importance to its brotherly good relations with Tajikistan. Stating the fulfillment of his promise of bringing a plane load of Pakistani businessmen to Tajikistan, he requested President Rahmon to match the figure in the coming “EXPO-Pakistan 2011” planned from 20-23 October 2011 to further boost the economic relations. The President promised to do so.
Mr. Puri also informed the President that during this visit two Memoranda of Understanding for cooperation were also inked viz. one between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Tajik State Committee on Investment and the other between the Baig Group and Tajikistan Textile Complex.
On the suggestion of the Pakistan Ambassador, the leader of the delegation also requested the Tajik President to expedite allocation of land to Pakistan in Dushanbe so that before the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari in September 2011 necessary arrangements could be made for the joint foundation laying ceremony by the two Presidents for the construction of Pakistan Embassy in Dushanbe.
Earlier in the day, the delegation visited the Pakistan Study Centre at the Tajik State University. The students recited some excerpts from Allama Iqbal’s poetry and won the applause of the delegates. Later in the evening, the delegation visited one of the largest aluminum smelters of the world – Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) in the evening.
PR No. 21
PRESS RELEASE
Islamabad: June 3, 2011A Chinese delegation headed by Senior Vice President Three Gorges Corporation of China, Mr. Wang Shaofeng, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.
Senator Dr. Asim Hussain, Minister for Petroleum, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief MinisterSindh, Mr. Jam Siafullah Khan Dharejo, Minister for irrigation Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah and Ms. Shazia Marri were present during the meeting besides Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar.
Briefing the media Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that meeting was pursuant to an earlier meeting of the President with the Chairman of China Three Gorges Project Corporation Mr. Cao Guangjing held in April where the President had advised the Federal Government to task the Corporation to also build a run of the river hydro project at Sukkur Barrage and had asked the Water and Power Minister to liaise with the stake holders to finalize project proposal within 60 days.
During this meeting, the Spokesperson said, Mr. Shaofeng briefed the President about site investigation and preliminary report prepared by Three Gorges Corporation of China on the Sukkur Barrage for building a run of the river hydro power project of 120 MW.
It may be recalled that China has offered financial and technical assistance to massively develop hydro and wind power, up-grade the existing transmission system and provide an integrated solution to the problems of power shortages and disruptions in Pakistan. The Three Gorges Project Corporation of China which is pioneer in hydro power project development is already involved in a number of multi purpose hydro and wind power projects in the country including Karot, Taunsa, Kohala and Bunji hydro electric projects. Various wind projects are also underway as a part of finding an integrated solution to meet the growing the energy needs of the country.
He said that various options for building run of the river hydro project at Sukkur Barrage, as proposed by Three Gorges Corporations, were considered during the meeting.
The President advised that the important factors such as relocation of households and existing highways be accorded top consideration in further undertaking the study and developing the plans for implementation of the project. The President said that economical viability was also another important factor to be given due consideration.
He said that besides undertaking 120 MW power project on Sukkur Barrage, the study may also be conducted on building a number of small power stations of 20 MW to 30 MW, depending upon the capacity, on the various distributaries in that area.
The President appreciated the Three Gorges Project Corporation for undertaking the power projects and offering assistance to the country in order to find integrated energy solutions. He reassured the Corporation the Government would provide all possible facilitation and assistance to it during its work on building power projects in Pakistan.
Earlier, Mr. Wang Shaofeng and his delegation also offered condolence to the President over the death of his father. The President thanked them for their sympathies and for condolence.